Free The China Dogs by Sam Masters

more modern?”
    â€œNo. I’m very happy to sit and drink champagne and listen to harp music on a grassed-over helipad.” She picks up her champagne flute by the delicate spindle, “I toast your wild and beautiful taste.”
    â€œHere’s to things wild and beautiful—and long may I be around them.” He clinks his glass gently against hers.
    Zoe notices his eyes never leave hers as they toast and drink. His stare is mesmeric but unthreatening.
    A small dark-haired man of about Zoe’s age appears from the stairs and distracts her. He’s wearing a waiter’s white shirt, black vest, black trousers, and is carrying two plates of food.
    â€œGood evening, Lieutenant.” He smiles at Zoe. “Welcome, ma’am, to the roof of the world. I hope you both enjoy the food.”
    â€œThanks, Benny,” Ghost says, then makes the introductions. “Benny, this is Zoe Speed from New York City via Maryland. Zoe, this is Benny Clark, Miami via Mexico and Los Angeles. Benny normally does pizza delivery but took the night off specially to help out. I’m very grateful Benny.”
    â€œMy pleasure, Detective.” He nods and walks away.
    Ghost waits until he is out of earshot before adding, “Our ‘waiter’ used to run with a bad crowd. Before the pizza job he used to deliver more lucrative takeouts, namely crack and dope. To stay out of prison he turned C.I. Now he runs straighter than a train on the Nullarbor Plain.” He points his fork at her starter of raw fish and vegetables seasoned in spices and marinated in vinegar. “How’s the ceviche?”
    She nods as she chews and listens. “It’s good. Benny is an excellent cook.”
    He doesn’t even think about telling her that Benny can’t boil water and that he’d made both the classic Miami appetizer and the main course of New York strip steaks, marinated for the past three hours in his own unique recipe. “Yes he is, surprisingly so.”
    She takes another sip of champagne. “Do you know what Liebesträum means?”
    â€œYes. It’s German. It means Dreams of Love.”
    She listens to the ripple of notes and it makes her think of video she shot of soft summer rain breaking the stillness of a lily strewn pond. “You’re very cultured—for a cop.”
    He laughs. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
    â€œYou should. It was meant to be. Cops are supposed to be gritty, earthy, grubby, and hard, but you—you have a gentleness.” She realizes she may have accidentally insulted him. “Hey, I’m not saying you can’t be a tough guy—I mean, I saw you out on the street with the robber and you handled yourself good. I just meant—”
    â€œI know what you meant.” He’s amused by her awkwardness. “As a kid I retreated into books and music. Until I became big enough and skilled enough to fight, knowledge was my chosen weapon of self-defense. Still is, given the chance.”
    â€œSo you’re a thinker?”
    â€œTry to be.”
    â€œI’m more impulsive. Go with the moment. Roll with how you feel.”
    He leans closer and holds her eyes. “And how do you feel tonight? Out here, with this strange man in the middle of this strange and hopefully pleasant moment?”
    A tingle of excitement runs down her back. “I feel—”
    Her cell phone rings mid-sentence. She looks accusingly at Jude’s borrowed purse hanging over her chair.
    Ghost nods at the bag. “Feel free to take it.”
    She fishes the phone out. It’s jangling rudely with Eminem’s “I Am What I Am” and flashes up a head shot of Danny. “It’s my brother. Excuse me.” She gets up from the table and walks to the edge of the helipad. “Hey, big guy, I’m out on a date. Can I call you back?”
    â€œTonight, or in the morning?” He sounds bored.
    It’s a